Zion the raised heart of the desert.

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Zion the raised heart of the desert. 

The highest desert sandstone, and the most interior is in Zion.  Here all interior water flows (water in the earth), at least what is stored in the red musculature (structure) of the desert.

The sandstone takes root (begins) in the high mountains, extends through the desert basins, and opens as the pillars of Zion.

Another more geologically realistic way of saying this is that the sandstone layers are pused up and exposed at 2 ends.

where the mountains have risen                          

and where the river has cut through rather then rode upon

Water pours in at the section exposed to the mountains.  While it percolates out in sections exposed in Zion.  Allowing water to travel all the way through.   So,  Zions walls act like a pump.... or a heart.